International logistics firm DHL Express is opening its largest facility in Myanmar to cater to the country’s increasing logistics needs, driven by growing garment manufacturing sector.
The country has a growing garment manufacturing industry, which accounts for around 10-12 per cent of its total exports. The sector employs around 300,000 people and in its 2014-15 financial year recorded a garment export value of US $ 1.5 billion, up from US $ 1.2 billion in the prior year.
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“DHL launched this facility to cater to Myanmar’s increasing logistics needs, driven by growth sectors such as infrastructure, oil and gas and garment industries,” said Mark Ong, Country Manager – Myanmar, DHL Express, adding, “It is designed to handle massive shipment volumes expected over the next decade – to the year 2025 and beyond.”
The new service centre is located close to the airport and features a 280ft conveyor belt system, high security and full visibility of the shipping process, an x-ray machine, and over 30 CCTV cameras. Yasmin Aladad Khan, Executive VP of Commercial for Asia Pacific and MD of Emerging Markets for DHL Express said that Myanmar is strengthened by the dismantling of trade barriers, continued economic reforms and foreign direct investment, along with its resource-rich land and strategic geographic location at the intersection of China and India. The country is full of untapped potential, and the company is looking to explore that.
DHL Express has been operating in Myanmar for over 30 years and this latest facility, as stated, will support the nation’s fast-growing economy, which is forecast to rise by 8.5 per cent this year. It will also back Myanmar’s strong import and domestic demand by its expensive handling capacity as it will be occupying over 50,000 square feet of land with a built-up area of 32,500 square feet in Yangon.
